Summary:
The city of Port Gibson, Mississippi is home to three public schools serving students from elementary through high school: A.W. Watson Elementary, Port Gibson High School, and Port Gibson Middle School. These schools, which are part of the Claiborne County School District, face significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance, high poverty levels, and racial imbalances among the student populations.
Across all three schools, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science is consistently lower than the state average. For example, in 2023-2024, the 5th-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate at A.W. Watson Elementary was just 27.1%, compared to the state average of 51.7%. Additionally, all three schools have a 100% free/reduced lunch rate, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.
The racial demographics of the schools are also a concern, with the student populations being overwhelmingly African American, ranging from 97.94% at A.W. Watson Elementary to 99.73% at Port Gibson High School. This lack of diversity is in stark contrast to the state's overall student population. Furthermore, the spending per student varies significantly between the elementary school ($9,131) and the middle/high schools ($16,500), suggesting potential funding inequities that may contribute to the academic challenges faced by these schools.
Thank you for your feedback!